Newport sea captain

[paintergirl]

This is one of those smaller cards. I can't remember what they are called. My grgrgrandmother came to the US with her family in 1870. I got a bunch of photos from an aunt of relatives. My mother asked her mother who they were but all she knew was they were relatives. This one was interesting. Is there anyway I can find out who he was? I hope these aren't too big.

[fastfusion]

of all the entries on bmd.....   there is only one for a Sia


Birth registered  Dec quarter of 1847  for Wooles,  Sia John  at  Chepstow  26 64

if that's of any use........

Capt...............?
.....and great grandma Matthews.......?

Have u checked with the archives for any files or account books of G Villers photographer? maybe that would be quicker.....    and or doing a baseline genealogy when the photographer was alive to narrow the scope of his photographc career>>>   just a thought

[KGarrad]

You've posted this in Shropshire, when it should be in Monmouthshire!
There is a Newport in both - but Shropshire is landlocked, and unlikely to spawn a sea captain?!

I will ask a mod to move this.

[KGarrad]

Can you give us some names and dates to start us off?

Newport, Monmouthshire (in Wales, NOT England!) is/was a sea-port and there would be many sea captains from there.


G. Villiers (Photographic Artist) was based at 59 High Street, Newport from the late 1850's (Directory of 1859) until the mid-1860's (1865 directory at Commercial Street).
See http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/VicPhoto1.html#MON

[Gadget]

If it's any help, I'd say the hairstyle and dress of the woman suggests late 1850s/early 1860s. I'll PM Jim as he's excellent with dates 

Gadget

Added - looking again at the styles of the period, I'd say mid-late 1850s at the latest 

[KGarrad]

Which ties in precisely with the dates George Villiers was operating out of 59 High Street!

[hanes teulu]

Does it read "Sea Capt, cousin of great grandma Mathews"//

[Gadget]

Does it read "Sea Capt, cousin of great grandma Mathews"//

I believe so - with two ts 

Added - all we need to do now is find great grandma Matthews and then find a suitable cousin circa 1860!

[Gadget]

This might give us some clues:

My greatgreatgrandmother was born in Ireland and traveled with parents to Durham County after 1820. Her name was Elizabeth Duke. In 1841 she married George Stores. They had 2 kids Thomas and John. George must have died before 1850 because that's when Elizabeth married Bernard Matthews. They immigrated to America in 1870.

............... Is Duke an Irish or English name? They were Catholic if that matters. I haven't found them in Ireland but I haven't looked hard.